Post by Mr Momentum & the Sidesteppers on Aug 12, 2020 5:46:41 GMT -5
As a well versed kinosseur of the animated arts, sports and cinema, I take it upon myself to deliver to you, my assorted friends and compatriots, the definitive list of the greatest anime fights of all-time. This list was compiled after over 23 years of meticulously studying anime from an infant, well into adulthood. Let us be clear: this thread shall serve as the absolute authority on this issue. This being said, you're free to enter the honourable mentions you feel are worth entering into this thread. Without further ado, let's mosey:
10. The End of Evangelion - Sohryu Asuka Langley vs The Eva Series
Some would argue that a mecha fight should not be included at all in a list about anime fights, as these should be more specifically categorized as "mecha fights". Some would say this list should only include hand to hand fights or anime superheroes beating the shit out of each other. However I would strongly disagree, as mecha fights are in fact anime fights and are just as qualifiable as any other. And with that in mind, I'll open this list with the single greatest mecha combat sequence in the history of all animation from one of the top 3 anime films ever made. This also includes a very poignant and fitting musical segment, Johann Sebastian Bach's Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068, second movement, "Air". The conclusion of the fight is that of course, despite fighting her heart out and giving everything she has to give, Asuka still fails, she's still murdered by the Eva Series and then consumed by them. I found it poignant that a film that opens with a shot of teenager masturbating over this girl's body would also depict her horribly gruesome death while trying to save humanity, all while fighting for no one but herself. The true beauty of this scene is that it epitomizes the futility of mankind's fight against God: of course we will never win against the bending of the world's will. Sometimes the most triumphant and heartwarming battles in history are also battles that were lost, Anno knows this to be true. This fight also has the rare distinction of not being part of a manga adaptation, and is an entirely original work. Likely, this scene will never, ever be surpassed in any way as the greatest mecha fight scene ever. All of Gundam, Macross etc cannot truly match the beauty and tragedy of it.
9. Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children - Cloud vs Sephiroth
It is with the most sublime of ironies perhaps, that one of the greatest anime fight scenes of all-time was fully rendered in, at the time, state of the art 3D CGI for a film produced by Square Enix that is now considered one of the most hated aspects of the entire FFVII universe. That in 2020 even after we have been gifted the first part of a Remake of Final Fantasy VII, complete with a fight between Cloud and Sephiroth, still, this scene has not been surpassed. This arrangement of One Winged Angel is still better than what's in both games. This is still the single best fight in all of FFVII's history, and canonically it has been erased from the timeline after Avalanche defeated the Arbiters of Fate in the Final Fantasy VII Remake. The three timeghosts that are fought in the game are actually based on the three Advent Children of Sephiroth. Everyone unanimously hates this canon, this timeline, this movie, but god dammit. This is the best fucking fight scene in all of Final Fantasy. The only reason you bought a dvd of this movie in 2005 was because you signed up to watch this fight. The last line uttered by Cloud is perhaps the most meaningful, after Sephiroth asks what Cloud cherishes most, he replies with the most Cloud Strife response of all-time:
8. My Hero Academia - All Might vs All For One (United States of Smash)
Greatest.
Of.
All.
Time.
The Bible tells us that mankind was created in God's image. And indeed this is true, it is the power of God that resides in all of us that let's humanity slowly alter the world and the eventually, the universe to change as we need it to. However, what the Bible didn't tell us is that some men, are created more equal than others. Some people on this Earth are made more in God's image than the rest of us. These people, are the GOATs.
I think it's the unique prestige of Hero Academia that the show begins not by simply introducing our hapless, good for nothing loser hero at the exact same time as it introduces us to the ultimate GOAT of its universe. If being a superhero was a sport, All Might is Michael Jordan, Mike Tyson, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Doctor J, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Tom Brady, Jerry Rice, Wayne Gretzsky, Tiger Woods and Muhammad Ali. Mostly those boxers, but there's a little bit of all of them in him. All Might is the GOAT of all superheroes, and everyone else knows it. His world has many talented heroes just as leagues have many talented players. In the end though, it is the GOATs who stand the test of time as eternal icons of what human greatness embodies.
The truth is, all your heroes eventually grow old, unable to perform anymore, they pass away one day. Eventually, that greatness which was once theirs to wear with honour fades into time as a memory, only living on in recorded media. They become Legends. Eventually, you will never see your hero be what they used to be, many can find this difficult to accept when it comes to the greatest human athletes. You could compare this fight to perhaps two things: the very last game Michael Jordan played for the Chicago Bulls where he won his sixth ring and sixth Final's MVP, a feat that has never been matched in the NBA. Alternatively, you could compare it to Michael Jordan's legendary "40 at 40" game where he set a unique record which to this day, only he holds; as a 40 year old man in the NBA, he scored 43 points. No other player that ever attempted to play professional basketball at the age of 40 came even close to this level of production (none of them even scored 20 in a game). The argument that Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player to ever live is completely, 100% over: he is the ultimate GOAT, Michael Jeffrey "The Sport of Basketball" Jordan. Perhaps in 100 years will come a kid who will surpass him, until then, Air Jordan reigns supreme.
What All Might's battle against All for One represents is that last, triumphant dance of a GOAT before the curtain is finally drawn and the last vestiges of their strength and talent fade away with time. It represents man's struggle to fight against father time, sometimes futile, but in rare moments such as this, ultimately victorious. Moments such as this come once a generation, a passing of the torch from one legend onto the legends who will develop and grow in the time after they've retired. Everything about this episode, from All Might's teacher and the previous owner of One For All speaking to him and discussing his character embody the sense that this is both a physical and mental battle for All Might. Essentially, everything about All Might as a character is put on display here.
I found it very difficult to find clips of this actual sequence as its blocked in a very draconian sense on YouTube. Most of the aspects of All Mights character are cut from this sequence on YouTube because it just keeps getting copyright striked. The most poignant aspect of the entire sequence is when All Might remembers being told "Now, it's your turn" and eventually says the same words to Midoriya after All for One is defeated. I wish I could show the full clip, but for now this will have to suffice.
The real meaning of "One For All", is that GOATman Power passing on from one generation of legends to another. That passing of the torch with the legend growing stronger each time. The fact that the author of Hero Academia imagined such a concept is in itself one of the great geniuses of the series.
7. Mob Psycho 100 II - Mob vs Toichiro
There's something funny about the pseudonym ONE chosen by the author of One Punch Man and Mob Psycho 100. I think the reason why ONE's works strike such a chord with people is because he is a man who is obsessed with the concept of infinity, and his works explore this concept. The idea of a man that could exist who could possess infinite physical strength within his singular fist. The idea that a boy could have such a level of psychic powers that he would essentially become as a god. And the idea that both of these people could be everyday people around us, humble despite their gifts. Studio Bones gives absolutely everything into producing one of the most imaginative fight sequences that could only exist in the realm of anime. I find it poignant that in what is so far Mob's most trying battle, he still finds time to think of all the people around him and humbles himself. Despite his incredible power, Mob thinks nothing of his powers except as a means to protect others, and idolizes those born with physical strength or who have trained their bodies to be stronger. At the end of the day, he's just a horny kid who wants to get laid one day. This contradiction in his character is so fundamental to what Mob is, and that contradiction is never more alive than when Mob shouts out "Body Improvement! Fight On!". Only the genius of ONE can make such an utterly cheesey line feel so completely fitting, heartwarming and epic all at once.
This sequence right here should tell you that Studio Bones does not know what the word 'budget' means. They are in fact, the single greatest anime studio in the industry today. God only knows what the future of the Mob Psycho 100 series holds, but I'm looking forward to it.
6. My Hero Academia - All Might vs Noumu
Look, I'm not gonna sit here and try to convince you that My Hero Academia deserves two spots on this list. It does. Midoriya and All Might are descended from the same divine shonen manga bloodline that spawned Goku and Vegeta, and are already in the pantheon of the greatest anime characters of all-time. Yes, both of them are massive homos. Yes, the English dub of Hero Academia is better. And god fucking dammit, I have literally woken up my landlord watching this fight multiple times with the volume full blast. The reason I specifically place this fight higher than the previous Hero Academia fight, despite this one taking place chronologically earlier, is because this is All Might at almost full power, and this is Hero Academia at 100% Plus Ultra. Not only is the animation the literal definition of GO BEYOND, this scene also contains the single greatest line of Chris Sabat's career.
I want to be honest with you guys: I physically can't watch these All Might fights sometimes without tearing up. All Might is not merely an anime character, like Goku he represents the greatest aspects of humanity that could be realized in a universe with fictional superpowers. In any decent human being, resides a little bit of All Might. We may not have his strength, his enormous physical size, blonde hair or blue eyes, but there is indeed the spirit of All Might in all of us.
If All Might vs All for One is Jordan winning his sixth ring or his 40 at 40 record, this fight is prime time young Jordan balling in the late 80s early 90s. This is Jumpman. This is the full power of All Might unleashed with him still standing intact as the Symbol of Peace by the end.
10. The End of Evangelion - Sohryu Asuka Langley vs The Eva Series
Some would argue that a mecha fight should not be included at all in a list about anime fights, as these should be more specifically categorized as "mecha fights". Some would say this list should only include hand to hand fights or anime superheroes beating the shit out of each other. However I would strongly disagree, as mecha fights are in fact anime fights and are just as qualifiable as any other. And with that in mind, I'll open this list with the single greatest mecha combat sequence in the history of all animation from one of the top 3 anime films ever made. This also includes a very poignant and fitting musical segment, Johann Sebastian Bach's Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068, second movement, "Air". The conclusion of the fight is that of course, despite fighting her heart out and giving everything she has to give, Asuka still fails, she's still murdered by the Eva Series and then consumed by them. I found it poignant that a film that opens with a shot of teenager masturbating over this girl's body would also depict her horribly gruesome death while trying to save humanity, all while fighting for no one but herself. The true beauty of this scene is that it epitomizes the futility of mankind's fight against God: of course we will never win against the bending of the world's will. Sometimes the most triumphant and heartwarming battles in history are also battles that were lost, Anno knows this to be true. This fight also has the rare distinction of not being part of a manga adaptation, and is an entirely original work. Likely, this scene will never, ever be surpassed in any way as the greatest mecha fight scene ever. All of Gundam, Macross etc cannot truly match the beauty and tragedy of it.
9. Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children - Cloud vs Sephiroth
It is with the most sublime of ironies perhaps, that one of the greatest anime fight scenes of all-time was fully rendered in, at the time, state of the art 3D CGI for a film produced by Square Enix that is now considered one of the most hated aspects of the entire FFVII universe. That in 2020 even after we have been gifted the first part of a Remake of Final Fantasy VII, complete with a fight between Cloud and Sephiroth, still, this scene has not been surpassed. This arrangement of One Winged Angel is still better than what's in both games. This is still the single best fight in all of FFVII's history, and canonically it has been erased from the timeline after Avalanche defeated the Arbiters of Fate in the Final Fantasy VII Remake. The three timeghosts that are fought in the game are actually based on the three Advent Children of Sephiroth. Everyone unanimously hates this canon, this timeline, this movie, but god dammit. This is the best fucking fight scene in all of Final Fantasy. The only reason you bought a dvd of this movie in 2005 was because you signed up to watch this fight. The last line uttered by Cloud is perhaps the most meaningful, after Sephiroth asks what Cloud cherishes most, he replies with the most Cloud Strife response of all-time:
"I pity you. You just don't get it. There isn't a thing I don't cherish!
8. My Hero Academia - All Might vs All For One (United States of Smash)
Greatest.
Of.
All.
Time.
The Bible tells us that mankind was created in God's image. And indeed this is true, it is the power of God that resides in all of us that let's humanity slowly alter the world and the eventually, the universe to change as we need it to. However, what the Bible didn't tell us is that some men, are created more equal than others. Some people on this Earth are made more in God's image than the rest of us. These people, are the GOATs.
I think it's the unique prestige of Hero Academia that the show begins not by simply introducing our hapless, good for nothing loser hero at the exact same time as it introduces us to the ultimate GOAT of its universe. If being a superhero was a sport, All Might is Michael Jordan, Mike Tyson, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Doctor J, Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Tom Brady, Jerry Rice, Wayne Gretzsky, Tiger Woods and Muhammad Ali. Mostly those boxers, but there's a little bit of all of them in him. All Might is the GOAT of all superheroes, and everyone else knows it. His world has many talented heroes just as leagues have many talented players. In the end though, it is the GOATs who stand the test of time as eternal icons of what human greatness embodies.
The truth is, all your heroes eventually grow old, unable to perform anymore, they pass away one day. Eventually, that greatness which was once theirs to wear with honour fades into time as a memory, only living on in recorded media. They become Legends. Eventually, you will never see your hero be what they used to be, many can find this difficult to accept when it comes to the greatest human athletes. You could compare this fight to perhaps two things: the very last game Michael Jordan played for the Chicago Bulls where he won his sixth ring and sixth Final's MVP, a feat that has never been matched in the NBA. Alternatively, you could compare it to Michael Jordan's legendary "40 at 40" game where he set a unique record which to this day, only he holds; as a 40 year old man in the NBA, he scored 43 points. No other player that ever attempted to play professional basketball at the age of 40 came even close to this level of production (none of them even scored 20 in a game). The argument that Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player to ever live is completely, 100% over: he is the ultimate GOAT, Michael Jeffrey "The Sport of Basketball" Jordan. Perhaps in 100 years will come a kid who will surpass him, until then, Air Jordan reigns supreme.
What All Might's battle against All for One represents is that last, triumphant dance of a GOAT before the curtain is finally drawn and the last vestiges of their strength and talent fade away with time. It represents man's struggle to fight against father time, sometimes futile, but in rare moments such as this, ultimately victorious. Moments such as this come once a generation, a passing of the torch from one legend onto the legends who will develop and grow in the time after they've retired. Everything about this episode, from All Might's teacher and the previous owner of One For All speaking to him and discussing his character embody the sense that this is both a physical and mental battle for All Might. Essentially, everything about All Might as a character is put on display here.
I found it very difficult to find clips of this actual sequence as its blocked in a very draconian sense on YouTube. Most of the aspects of All Mights character are cut from this sequence on YouTube because it just keeps getting copyright striked. The most poignant aspect of the entire sequence is when All Might remembers being told "Now, it's your turn" and eventually says the same words to Midoriya after All for One is defeated. I wish I could show the full clip, but for now this will have to suffice.
The real meaning of "One For All", is that GOATman Power passing on from one generation of legends to another. That passing of the torch with the legend growing stronger each time. The fact that the author of Hero Academia imagined such a concept is in itself one of the great geniuses of the series.
This power has been passed on from hero to hero. Each praying that it bring joy and peace to humanity. That One For All will give the world hope, and now it is your turn. Do your best, Toshinori.
7. Mob Psycho 100 II - Mob vs Toichiro
There's something funny about the pseudonym ONE chosen by the author of One Punch Man and Mob Psycho 100. I think the reason why ONE's works strike such a chord with people is because he is a man who is obsessed with the concept of infinity, and his works explore this concept. The idea of a man that could exist who could possess infinite physical strength within his singular fist. The idea that a boy could have such a level of psychic powers that he would essentially become as a god. And the idea that both of these people could be everyday people around us, humble despite their gifts. Studio Bones gives absolutely everything into producing one of the most imaginative fight sequences that could only exist in the realm of anime. I find it poignant that in what is so far Mob's most trying battle, he still finds time to think of all the people around him and humbles himself. Despite his incredible power, Mob thinks nothing of his powers except as a means to protect others, and idolizes those born with physical strength or who have trained their bodies to be stronger. At the end of the day, he's just a horny kid who wants to get laid one day. This contradiction in his character is so fundamental to what Mob is, and that contradiction is never more alive than when Mob shouts out "Body Improvement! Fight On!". Only the genius of ONE can make such an utterly cheesey line feel so completely fitting, heartwarming and epic all at once.
This sequence right here should tell you that Studio Bones does not know what the word 'budget' means. They are in fact, the single greatest anime studio in the industry today. God only knows what the future of the Mob Psycho 100 series holds, but I'm looking forward to it.
6. My Hero Academia - All Might vs Noumu
Look, I'm not gonna sit here and try to convince you that My Hero Academia deserves two spots on this list. It does. Midoriya and All Might are descended from the same divine shonen manga bloodline that spawned Goku and Vegeta, and are already in the pantheon of the greatest anime characters of all-time. Yes, both of them are massive homos. Yes, the English dub of Hero Academia is better. And god fucking dammit, I have literally woken up my landlord watching this fight multiple times with the volume full blast. The reason I specifically place this fight higher than the previous Hero Academia fight, despite this one taking place chronologically earlier, is because this is All Might at almost full power, and this is Hero Academia at 100% Plus Ultra. Not only is the animation the literal definition of GO BEYOND, this scene also contains the single greatest line of Chris Sabat's career.
"A Real Hero, will ALWAYS find a way for JUSTICE to be served!"
I want to be honest with you guys: I physically can't watch these All Might fights sometimes without tearing up. All Might is not merely an anime character, like Goku he represents the greatest aspects of humanity that could be realized in a universe with fictional superpowers. In any decent human being, resides a little bit of All Might. We may not have his strength, his enormous physical size, blonde hair or blue eyes, but there is indeed the spirit of All Might in all of us.
If All Might vs All for One is Jordan winning his sixth ring or his 40 at 40 record, this fight is prime time young Jordan balling in the late 80s early 90s. This is Jumpman. This is the full power of All Might unleashed with him still standing intact as the Symbol of Peace by the end.
And now for a lesson: You may have heard these words before, but I'll teach you what they really mean. GO BEYOND, PLUS ULTRA!
